Playtime has boarded “High Ground,” an Australian action film headlined by Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey and Jack Thompson.

Directed by Stephen Johnson, “High Ground” tells the story of Gutjuk, a young Aboriginal man orphaned in childhood who is recruited by a former soldier to track down the most dangerous outlaw in the territory — his uncle. Chris Anastassiades (“Yolgnu Boy”) wrote the script.

“High Ground” just started shooting in the world heritage-listed Kakadu Park and Arnhem Land in Australia’s rugged Northern Territory. The cast is completed by Aaron Pedersen, Caren Pistorius, Ryan Corr and newcomer Jacob Jr. Nayinggul who plays the role of Gutjuk.

Maggie Miles, Witiyana Marika and Johnson are producing the film along with David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin. Playtime has acquired international sales rights to “High Ground” and is kicking off pre-sales at the American Film Market.

“We have been following Australian directors and writers for some time now, and I must say that Stephen Johnson’s vision in ‘High Ground’ is one of the most original stories that we have come across in recent years,” said Playtime’s co-founder Sebastien Beffa, adding that the film is “a truly international project that will resonate with audiences around the world.”

Related

Johnson said he has wanted to tell this story for a long time and has the ambition to “create an exciting action-packed (film) for a wide audience that is both entertaining and confronting.” The helmer said he collaborated with Mandawuy Yunupingu, Witiyana Marika, Jonathan Nadji, Alfred Nayinggul and many families across Arnhem Land to craft the story.

“It’s a privilege to be filming ‘High Ground’ on sacred country with traditional owners and their families in Kakadu and Arnhem Land. Our mix of stellar and breakthrough cast brings an exciting potency to this epic story,” said Miles.

The film is a High Ground Pictures production. It’s financially backed by Screen Australia with support from Maxo Studios, Screen Territory, Film Victoria, Bunya Prods. and Savage Films. “High Ground” will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment.

Playtime’s current sales slate include the remake of “Goodnight Mommy,” the critically acclaimed Austrian psychological thriller, and Francois Ozon’s “By the Grace of God,” both of which Playtime is co-producing.

Sign Up for Daily Insider Newsletter

With his fifth No. 1 box office opening, M. Night Shyamalan has plenty to celebrate. “Glass,” the conclusion to a trilogy that consists of the 2000 cult hit “Unbreakable” and 2016’s box office sensation “Split,” topped the box office last weekend — though its win comes with a few caveats. James McAvoy reprised his role [...]

Patra Spanou has picked up world sales rights to “Los miembros de la familia” (Family Members), which will world premiere in the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section. Variety has been given an exclusive first look of the film’s trailer. The film is the second feature from writer/director Mateo Bendesky, and is produced by Agustina Costa [...]

Great Point Media and The Development Partnership, the development and production arm of the talent agency the Artists Partnership, are joining forces to develop, package, and co-produce multiple films, kicking off with three projects, including “Chasing Agent Freegard,” starring James Norton (“War & Peace”). “Chasing Agent Freegard,” which is being produced by “Captain Phillips” co-producer [...]

Sandro Fiorin’s Miami-based FiGa Films, a leading sales agent on the independent Latin American scene, has announced the acquisition of Brazilian doc “Landless,” and released a trailer for the Costa Rican-Spanish drama “El despertar de las hormigas.” Both features will play at this year’s Berlinale Forum and come from young Latin American filmmakers making their [...]

Ryan Reynolds canceled surgery on his arm to fly to China and charm “Deadpool” fans in Beijing on Sunday ahead of the franchise’s unexpected China theatrical debut. Just last week, Fox suddenly announced that a re-cut, PG-13 “Deadpool 2” would hit Chinese theaters starting this Friday – the first time the notoriously blood-splattered and foul-mouthed [...]

Writer-director Hari Sama’s fifth feature, “This is Not Berlin,” is set to world premiere at this month’s Sundance Film Festival. New York-based Cinema Tropical, a leading presenter of Latin American cinema in the U.S., has granted Variety exclusive access to the first trailer for the coming-of-age drama set in 1986 Mexico City. Sama wrote, directed [...]

Qatari powerhouse beIN Media Group is calling on Hollywood to join in fighting a pirate broadcaster that it alleges has stolen billions of dollars’ worth of rights to sports events, films and TV content, and that it says has the backing of Saudi Arabia. Doha-based beIN has compiled what it calls a “dossier of evidence” [...]